Electrical lighting device for cigars and the like



Nov. 11, 1930. w. B. CONNOLLY 1,7

ELECTRICAL LIGHTING DEVICE FOR CIGARS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 1'7, 1928 I llll llll INVENTOR 26 William, B. (or-140a =14 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 11. 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- WILLIAM B. CONNOLLY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TO I. A. SMITH MANIL- FAC'I'URING COMPANY, INC., OF IZ-OOHESTER, NEW YORK; A CORPORATION NEW YORK ELECTRICAL LIGHTING DEVICE FOR CIGARS AND THE LIKE Application filed February 17, 1928. Serial No. 255,184.

type of lighting device in which there is pro-' vided a stationary part having two electrical terminals engaged by two electrical terminals p on a removable member which carries the heating device by arranging the heating de- Vice in an exposed position on the front of the removable member. Another object of the invention is to provide a novel connection between the stationary member and the remov able member carrying the heating device.

Still another object of the invention is to pro- 1 vide a novel means of holding one of the contacts of the removable member out of enga ement with a contact of the stationary mem r while the two members are 'enga ed, this means permitting the cooperation o the two 2 terminals during such engagement. A further object of the invention is to provide a compactly constructed removableheating device carrying member'which will project a minimum amount when attached tothe sta- '2 tionary member. A still further object of the invention is to provide a construction in which the casing of the removable member has an air cooling chamber surrounding the insulator on which the heating device is arranged. Still another and further object of the invention is to so construct the removable member that all danger of burning'the hands of the user is eliminated. Another and further object is to provide a heating device which may be readily renewed.

' To these and other ends, the invention consists of certain arts and combinations of parts, all of which will be hereinafter described :.the novel features being pointed out in the appended claims. 1

In the drawings:

Fig; 1 is a front view of the removable heating device carrying member of the lightdevice p ig. 2 is a rear view of said member with parts broken away; 1 Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3,,Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of the sta: tionary member of said lighting device; 59 Fig. 5 is a side view partially in section of comprises a tubular the removable heating element and its sup- V port; Fig. 6 is a detail view of movable member; Fi 7 is a detail view of the insulator show-- mg t e openings through which the conductor passes; and

Fig. 8 is a side view of another embodiment of the stationary member.

In the illustrated embodiment of the inventhe clip on the retion, the lighting device comprises two detachably connected members, one of which has 'two terminals and is secured to a fixed part while the other carries two terminals and a heating element and is adapted for ready connection and disconnection from the stationary or fixed member.

The stationary member, in this instance, post 1 having a tapered end portion 2 and a surrounding and flaring shoulder 3. This post 1 forms one of the terminals and may be supported in any suitable manner preferably bein grounded. In theembo'diment shown in Fig. 4, the post 1 is supported on a U shaped .bracket 4 so that a stationary support 5 may be clamped between that arm of the bracket carrying the post Land a set screw 6 carried by the other arm of the bracket. The other terminal 10 of the fixed member is supported by an insulating disk 11 within the post 1, against an internal shoulder 12, the disks having a tight fit with the interior wall of the post above the shoulder. A conductor 13 may lead from this post through an opening in one side thereof in a plane of the adjacent bracket arm,'the bracket having a slot 14 which extends through the arm supporting said post 1 and also through the connecting arm of said bracket so that the conductor does not interfere with the clamping of the bracket to the stationary support 5.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 8, the

post 1 also forms a grounded termmal and tension 7 thereof. The screw thread 12 is provided on the contact in order that it may be engaged by a nut 13" to hold the contact 10 in the insulator 11. While two forms of supporting means for the post 1 have been illustrated, it is apparent that many other forms may be devised within the scope of this invention.

The removable heating device carrying memberof the lighting device in the illustrated embodiment comprised a casing formed of two parts '15 and 16 both of cupped shaped formation and one having a tight press fit with the other. The casing part has an opening 17 while the casing part 16 has an opposed opening 18, the wall in which the o ning 18 is provided tapering inwardly. l ithin the casing is arranged an insulating member 19 which has a diameter less than the interior diameter of the casing so that an air chamber 19 is provided about the insulator to keep the casing in a cool condition. One face of the insulator abuts the wall of the member 15 about the opening 17 while the opposite face is engaged by the in Wardly tapering wall of the member 16, the insulator having an annular projection 20 which extends through the opening 18 and serves to prevent sidewise movement of the insulator 19 inthe casing.

The insulator 19 may have a chamber 21 formed in the wall thereof opposite the opening 17 of the casing to receive the end of the post 10 of the stationary member, and associated with this chamber is a means for detachably interlocking the removable heating device member of the lighting device from the fixed or stationary member. This means,

-in this instance, comprises a spring clip formed in the illustrated embodiment from a single piece of wire bent substantially midway between the ends to provide a bend 23 connecting two spaced parallel arms 24 from which two opposed curvedportions 25 extend. Beyond these curved portions are two parallel spaced arms 26 substantially aligning with t e arms 24. The curved portions 25 form substantially a split ring which is slightly less in internal diameter than the opening 17 and also slightly less in diameter than the shoulder 3 on the post 1. This spring clip lies against the wall of the casing part 15 axially aligned with the opening 17 in the casing. The arms 24 and 26 are positioned in notches 27 formed in the insulating member and serve to prevent the shifting of the spring clip or retainer on the insulator while permitting the relative yielding of the two curved portions 25. To connect the removable heating device carrying member with the stationary member, the movable member is pressed against the tapered end 2 of the post 1 and this end spreads the curved portions 25 of the spring clip so that, when the removable member is pushed in farther, the

curved portions 25 will spring behind the shoulder 3, thus holding the removable member of the lighting device to the post or stationary member.

The heating or incandescing device comprises, in this instance, a fiat volute coil wire or ribbon 28 which has its inner end anchored to a post 29, the latter passing through a supporting plate 30 and two insulating disks 31 and 32 arranged on opposite sides of said plate 30. The post 29 is externally threaded and is engaged by a nut 33 which bears against the washer 34 and holds the plates or disks 30, 31 or 32 against an annular shoulder 35 on the post 29. The diameter of the plate 30 and the insulating disk 31 are each substantially equal to the diameter of the coil 28. It will thus be seen that the inner end of the coil 28 is insulated from the plate 30. The other end of the coil is bent downwardly at 36 and inwardly beneath the plate 30 at 37 to electrically connect with said plate.

Opposite this portion 37 the plate has a projection .or lug 38, the purpose of which will be hereinafter shown. The heating coil with its supporting-means is received within a chamber 22 of the insulator 19 in that face of the insulator opposite the face having the chamber 21, and a wall 39 separates the two chambers 21 and 22, said wall having a central opening 40 through which the post 29 projects. The nut 33 is received in the opening and the screw threaded end beyond the nut projects into the chamber 21 where a second nut 41 is fitted thereto. This second nut acts as a terminal which is adapted to engage the terminal 10 of the stationary member of the lighting device. With the end in view of connecting the other end of the coil 28 with the grounded post 1, the partition 39 is formed with two openings 42 and through these two openings a copper wire or conductor 43 is passed, the two ends of the wires being extended to and engaging the spring clip portion which acts as the other; terminal of the removable member and engages the post 1, the wire being engaged by the underturned portion 37 at the outer end member while at the same time permitting the terminal 41 to be brought into engagement with the terminal 10 at which there is provided a spring means which preferably cooperates with the end of the post 1 and is arranged in the chamber 21. This yielding means, in this instance, comprises a helical spring 44 having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the chamber 21 abutting the bottom of said chamber and also abutting a movable abutment plate 45 which is of cupped formation and rests against the spring clip that retains the movable member on a stationary member. This plate has a central opening 46 surrounding the terminal 4l'so that it will not engage said terminal and will permit the latter to be engaged by the terminal 10.

The operation of the invention will be understood from the foregoing description but it may be summarized as follows: Under normal conditions the removable heating device carrying member is arranged on the stationary member, the spring clip being engaged with the shoulder 3, and the terminal 41 being held out of engagement with the terminal 10 by the spring 44. lVhen it is desired to heat the coil 28, the removable member is pressed inwardly on the post 1 so that the terminal 41 engages the terminal 10. As the removable member is pressed inwardly, the spring 44 is compressed through the engagement of the removable abutment member 45 with the end of the post 1. After the heating device 28 has reached the proper degree of incandescence, the removable member is pulled off the post 1, the tapered shoulder 3 on the post spreading the spring clip or retainer to permit such removal. When the removable member of the lighting device has served its purpose of lighting a cigar or other article, it is again fitted to the stationary member, the tapered portion 2 on the post spreading the spring retainer or clip which afterwards springs back of the shoulder 3 so that the parts are again in their original positions. In this invention the heating or incandescing device is exposed to view during the time it is being brought into incandescence. The heating device is so mounted on the removable member of the lighting device that the device may be readily disconnected for the purpose of renewal. The incandescent device by being exposed at the front of the removable member when connected with the stationary member, renders the use of the lighting device safer, because it cools much quicker and if an accidental short circuit takes place, this condition may be ascertained before the battery is run down or other troubles are caused. A novel means is provided for connecting the removable member of the lighting device and the stationary member. There is also provided a novel means for holding the removable member with one of its terminals out of engagement with one of the terminals of the stationary member while permitting these two terminals to be brought readily into engagement. The heating device is supported on an insulator which connects with the outer casing, in such a manner. that the burning of the hands of the user is improbable. An air chamber is interposed bepost, and a heating tween the insulator and the sides of the casing grasped by the user.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electrical lighting device for cigarsand the like the combination with a stationary member having a terminal in the form of a post having a surrounding tapered shoulder and a tapered portion between the shoulder and the end of the post, and a second terminal arranged centrally of the post and insulated therefrom, of a removable member having a pocket in which said post is adapted to be received and two terminals arranged in the pocket, resilient means carried by the removable member adapted to cooperate with the tapered portion of the post when the latter is fitted into the pocket in order that it may spring behind the shoulder ofthe post to hold the fitted member to the post, and a heating device arranged on said removable member on the side thereof opposite the pocket and connected to the terminals within the pocket.

2. In an electrical lighting device for cigars and the like, the combination with a hollow post forming one terminal and provided with a tapered end and a surrounding shoulder, a terminal arranged in said post and insulated therefrom, of a removable member having a pocket in one side to receive said post, two terminals arranged in the pocket to cooperate with the first mentioned two terminals a retainer arranged to cooperate with the post to hold the removable member thereto, and a heating device carried by said removable member and connected with the terminals in the pocket.

3. In an electric lighting device for cigars and the like, the combination with a hollow post forming one terminal and provided with a tapered end and a surrounding shoulder, and a terminal arranged in said post and insulated therefrom, of a removable member having a pocket in one side to receive said post, terminals arranged entirely within the pockets to operate with the first mentioned two terminals, a spring clip carried by said pocket member to cooperate with the tapered end to be expanded thereby in order that it may spring behind the shoulder on the device carried by the pocketed member.

4. In an electrical lighting device for cigars and the like, the combination with two members, one of which is in the form of a projection and the other of which has a pocket in which the projecting member is adapted to be received, of means carried by the pocketed member for engaging with the projecting member to hold the two members together, a spring arranged in the pocket of the pocketed member, a movable abutment for said spring arranged in the pocketpf the pocketed member for cooperating with gars and the like, the combination with two members, one of which is in the form of a pro'ection and the other of which has a poc et in which the projecting member is ada ted to be received, of a spring clip carri by the pocketed member and formed from a single iece of stock bent between its ends to provide two opposed curved portions for engagement with opposite sides of the projection, and two pairs of arms extending outwardly from said curved portions, the members of one of said pair being connected and the members of the other pair being free of each other.

6. A removable member for an electric lighting device for cigars and the like comprising an insulator having pockets in opposite walls thereof separated by a partition having a central opening, both ends of which terminate with the pockets, a volute heating coil arranged in one of said pockets and having an externally threaded stem extending from the inner end of the coil through the central opening of said partition and terminating within other pocket, the outer end of the coil having a lateral extension, a conductor secured in said partition for engagement with the lateral extension on the coil, and a nut arranged on the free end of the stem entirely within the pocket on the rear side of the insulator and acting as an electric terminal.

7. An electrical lighting device comprising a stationary post having an outer surface forming one terminal and a central terminal insulated from the outer surface, a removable member having a pocket in one side, an exposed heatin device on the other side, a spring presse member arran ed in the pocket and acting as one terminal 0 the heating device to cooperate with the outermost terminal of the post, said spring pressed member having a central opening, a second terminal in the pocket held out of contact with the central terminal of the post by the spring pressed member, and ineans for 'detachably holding the removable member to the post.

8. An electrical heating device comprlsing a stationary post having two terminals, a removable member having a pocket on one side, aheating device arranged on the other side of the removable member, two terminals arranged in the pocket of the removable device,

sprin means holding one of said terminals out 0 contact with oneof the terminals on the post, and a spring clip carried by the removable member having a central opening through which the post is passed in entering the pocket to interlock with the post;

9. In an electrical lighting device, the combination with a stationary post having an outer surface forming one terminal and a central terminal insulated from the outer surface, of a removable member havingpockets opening on opposite sides of the member, a

heatin coil arranged in one ocket, exposed throug the opening thereot and having a centrally disposed terminal exposed to the pocket in the other side of the removable member, a coiled spring arranged on the other pocket of the removable member and compressed when the removable member 'is' pushed inwardly on the stationary post to cause the central terminal of the 0st to engage the centrally disposed terminal of the.

eating coil, means providing electrical connection between the other terminal of the heating coil and the outer terminal ofthe the latter and the heating coil to prevent heat from the coil being conducted to such outer surface so that the removable member may be held in the hand of the user without discomfort.

10. In a cigar lighter, the combination with a stationary member having a grounded sleeve and a central terminal supported in but insulated from the sleeve, of a removable member comprising a housing havin pockets in opposite sides thereof, one of whic 1 receives the stationary member, a heating coil arranged in the other of said pockets e re movable member between the outer wall ofand having a central terminal projecting into the first named pocket to engage the central terminal, a heat insulating disk arranged in rear of the heating coil, and means on the removable member for electrically connecting the outer end of the coil with the grounded sleeve of the stationary member.

WILLIAM B. CONNOLLY. 

